mineral

Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Transparent to white, though impurities can cause various colors. Luster: Vitreous (glassy). Crystal structure: Trigonal. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified July 30, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms in a wide variety of geological environments, commonly crystallizing from silica-rich hydrothermal veins and pegmatites, as well as being a primary component of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks.

Uses & applications

Used in electronics (oscillators, oscillators, and watches due to piezoelectric properties), glass manufacturing, abrasives, gemstones, and ornamental objects.

Geological facts

Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's continental crust and exhibits piezoelectricity, meaning it can generate an electrical charge when mechanical stress is applied.

Field identification & locations

Easily identifiable in the field by its characteristic 7 Mohs hardness (scratches glass), conchoidal fracture, and lack of cleavage. Found worldwide in almost every geological setting.